SMALL firms in Lancashire are spending too much time on paperwork, according to a survey.

Bosses of firms employing less than 25 employees in the area spend an average of a third of their working day carrying out administration. But only 17 per cent of their time is spent on management activities and business planning.

"There are many hurdles for small businesses to overcome but above all there is a clear need for greater automation of basic administrative processes," said Ian Makepeace, business development director of Pitney Bowes which commissioned the survey.

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